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Sonnet 130

This study guide will help you analyze the poem “Sonnet 130” (1609) by William Shakespeare. You can also find a summary of the poem, as well as ideas for interpreting it and putting it into perspective

Presentation of the poem

Title: “Sonnet 130” (1609)
Author: William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare is one of the most famous English playwrights and poets who ever lived. Surprisingly little is known about his life. He was born in 1564 in England, and before his death in 1613 he wrote at least 37 plays and a large number of sonnets (fourteen-line love poems written according to a strict format of rhyme and rhythm). 

In 1609, Shakespeare published a now-famous collection of 154 sonnets. The last 28 of these are addressed to a “dark lady” with whom the speaker seems to be in a sexual relationship. This is also the woman who is referred to as the “mistress” in “Sonnet 130”. It is thought that Shakespeare wrote his sonnets in the 1590s and early 1600s. 

More help

In our topic guide on William Shakespeare and his texts in general, you can find a lot of information about how to analyze the texts. You can also read about Shakespeare's historical context (the Elizabethan era) and much, much more. 

William Shakespeare

This topic guide gives you thorough knowledge about the famous English poet and playwright William Shakespeare. We give you a biography of him, explain the Elizabethan era, and offer a glossary of Shakespeare-related terms. We also explain how to analyze his plays, sonnets, dramatic devices, and language in general.

Here you can read an extract from the study guide:

The poem also relies on irony and humor to get its message across. By rejecting traditional poetic comparisons, the speaker seems to mock those who idealize their lovers and describe them as unreal, perfect beings. 

The speaker is straightforward when he claims that “My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun” (l. 1). This is quite ironic since this is a love poem about the woman he loves. The irony makes the poem sound playful and humorous. 

Despite the poem being mainly humorous, the speaker turns serious in the last two lines. Despite his suggestions that his mistress is not perfect or a goddess, he admits he loves her anyway and that she is special to him.

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Sonnet 130

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